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The 23-year-old defendant, of Welsh Mill Lane, originally pleaded not guilty to a charge that on October 29 at Frome he assaulted Caroline Moy by beating her.

However he changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil. He also admitted charges of driving without insurance or a licence on August 24 and 28.

Prosecutor Adrian Maxwell said that on October 29 Mrs Moy and her husband were at their daughter’s address helping her move and at one point the victim went outside and encountered a dog belonging to the defendant.

“There was no complaint about the animal, but Mrs Moy brought it back into the area where Owens lived and an argument broke out between them,” he said.

“Voices were raised by both sides, however the defendant then violently assaulted her which resulted in bruising to the right hand side of her head, grazes on her right shoulder, swelling and bruising to her right hand and bruising to her left leg and both arms.

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He pushed her to her face causing her to hit a door frame and then pulled her hair and slammed her head on the floor twice, hitting her to the temple area.

Owens was arrested and when interviewed by police accepted there had been a verbal altercation between him and Mrs Moy over the dog.

“However he initially denied assaulting her and said he had no idea how she came to have the injuries, however he pleaded guilty on the day of the trial.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said that Owens had been out of trouble for the last five years in terms of violence and a mental health assessment revealed he suffered from ADHD and anxiety.

“Clearly there has been history between the two parties for some time and Owens has ended up shouting in her face before,” he said.

“However on this occasion Mrs Moy said that although the dog was not causing any harm, she ushered it back to the defendant’s address. Owens went over to her and told her not to upset the children and they went face to face with each other on his doorstep.

“At that point Owens accepted he lost his cool but said there was a degree of provocation involved and at that point he lost his temper.

“His partner has had a very stabilising influence on him, and during the incident he admits he flipped out.”

Probation officer Joe Harper said at the time of the offence the defendant had a big problem with cocaine and his mental health and was in an agitated state when the police were called as he needed to get his next fix.